Military officials, high ranking civil servants in the government, and seven ministers are aware of the plan, Sveriges Radio (SR) reported.

Both Foreign Minister Carl Bildt and Trade Minister Ewa Björling claim, however, that they are unaware of any such plan.

Citing classified documents, the broadcaster claims that both Bildt and Björling, as well as Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, received a letter from the Swedish ambassador in Switzerland, Per Thöresson, describing the plan.

Among other things, the letter details how the embassy "is arranging interviews and pitching positive articles about Sweden" to the Swiss press.

However, Thöresson describes the actions as "regular embassy work".

"It's not a list to influence opinion; it's a list of events we have planned," he told SR.

The broadcaster reported that Swiss Defence Minister Ueli Maurer asked for the Swedes for help in winning a May 18th referendum on the country's purchase of Swedish-made Gripen fighter jets. Outreach efforts are meant to reach all Swiss voters, with Maurer requesting Gripen demonstration flights every six weeks, include a showing at World Cup skiing races planned in March.

In a December 17th letter to colleagues in Stockholm Thöresson wrote, "Now it's 'only' about winning the referendum," according to SR.

A month earlier he wrote, "Considering how uncertain the outcome of the referendum is, our contribution can very well be what tips the scales."

In 2011, the Swiss government approved the 3.13 billion Swiss francs ($3.47 billion).deal. But opponents forced a referendum on the Gripen purchase after submitting more than 65,000 valid signatures expressing their disapproval.

Polls show a majority of voters oppose the deal, which cannot be blocked as such. But under Switzerland's rules, opponents can contest the law on funding the purchase by tapping an annual 300 million Swiss francs from the military's budget over 10 years.

Sweden's ambassador emphasized his letter should be interpreted "exactly as it's written".

"Everything points to this being a very close referendum. It's not at all strange then that we implement our plan as planned," he told SR.

Your comments about this article

An association that promotes reading among children has become the first African group to win the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, the world's largest prize for children's and young people's literature.
READ

Swedish companies worried about the nation's business links with the Arab world should instead be focussing on their own responsibility to promote and demonstrate ethical behaviour, argues business rights advisor Ruben Brunsveld.
READ

A Swedish prosecutor has ordered the arrest of Canadian ice hockey player André Deveaux after he was caught on video violently slashing an opponent in a pre-game warm-up for his club side in Ängelholm.
READ

The actors playing Lisbeth Salander and journalist Mikael Blomkvist in the original Swedish movies based on the books. Photo. TT

The sequel to Swedish author Stieg Larsson's best-selling Millenium crime trilogy, due for release in August, kicks off with an artificial intelligence intrigue involving a US spy agency, the book's publishers have revealed.
READ

Sweden’s publicly funded free school model has attracted huge interest in the UK and elsewhere, but with profits in the schools sector under scrutiny from regulators the biggest firms are now expanding overseas.
READ

Rap mogul Jay Z launched a rebranded music streaming service on Monday with major star backing, after buying the Scandinavian sites Tidal and Wimp and their parent company Aspiro earlier this month.
READ

Sweden’s Prime Minister Stefan Löfven has told reporters in New York that the United Nations appears highly interested in his country, as he lobbies to get the Nordic nation a seat on the UN Security Council.
READ

PSD Media
PSD Media is marketing company that offers innovative solutions for online retailers. We provide modern solutions that help increase traffic and raise conversion. Visit our site at: psdmedia.se